About FLY Program

Many of you may not be familiar with the FLY Program. I first learned about it in 2024 while conducting research during my participation in YCAFE, a Korea–ASEAN youth exchange program. At the time, my team was designing a policy initiative to strengthen connectivity between Korean and ASEAN communities.

While exploring various exchange and funding opportunities, I came across FLY, short for Film Leaders Incubator. Well, it is an exchange program that brings together young filmmakers from Korea and ASEAN to train, collaborate, and share ideas.

Screenshot of promotional posts for “FLY Films Screening & Special Conversation with FLY Directors,” shared by the ROK Mission to ASEAN and CGV Indonesia.

It’s organized by the Busan Film Commission and aims to strengthen the creative capacity and regional network of emerging filmmakers through film education, production training, project development, and cultural exchange.

The program’s first phase began in 2012 in Davao, the Philippines, as an intensive short filmmaking workshop. It gathered aspiring filmmakers from ASEAN and Korea to develop scripts, receive mentorship from industry professionals, and produce short films through hands-on collaboration.

Screenshot of the official FLY (Film Leaders Incubator) program website, accessible through the following link: http://www.filmleadersincubator.asia/Index.do.

Following the completion of its initial phase, the ASEAN-ROK Film Community Programme has now entered a new stage under FLY PLUS, which now has three main components like FLY Creative Lab, FLY Shorts Lab, and FLY Reunion.

First, the FLY Creative Lab is a project development and industry consultation program for ASEAN feature films in progress, offering creative feedback, packaging strategies, and industry exchange.

Meanwhile, FLY Shorts Lab is an advanced talent development program that continues FLY’s legacy, bringing ASEAN and Korean filmmakers together with Korean professionals to strengthen practical skills in directing, cinematography, editing, sound, color grading, and more.

Last but not least, FLY Reunion is an alumni networking and exchange initiative that reconnects past participants, expanding opportunities for collaboration, professional growth, and future projects.

Visitors could leave their questions on the question board placed in front of the cinema studio before the “FLY Films Screening & Special Conversation with FLY Directors” event began.

FLY Films Screening & Special Conversation with FLY Directors

The event began with the screenings of all the short films. And of all the films presented, JIWO which directed by Luhki Herwanayogi left the strongest impression on me.

The short tells the story of a father struggling with the onset of mental illness while trying to hold himself together for his family on his daughter’s wedding day. Its deeply relatable narrative moved me to tears. I was struck by how, within such a brief runtime, a film could evoke such profound sadness and emotional resonance.

From left to right are portrait of Kim Geba (MC), Luhki Herwanayogi, and Aditya Ahmad, the directors of the short films JIWO and Kado, who were invited to join the talk show session with FLY directors.

Luhki Herwanayogi explained that JIWO, completed in 2022, was deeply inspired by his late father who lived with schizophrenia. He recalled how his family struggled to understand the illness, turning to shamans and traditional healers before eventually receiving a diagnosis from doctors. Although his father appeared physically fine, he was suffering internally. For Luhki, the film became both a tribute and a reminder that mental illness is real and deserves awareness.

On the other hand, Aditya Ahmad spoke about Kado, his second short film produced in 2018 by Miles Film. At the time, he was questioning his future in filmmaking and even considered quitting. His conversations with his friend Isfi, who also starred in the film, reignited his passion. Together, they explored themes of questioning, searching, and discovering identity, which ultimately shaped the narrative of Kado.

✌ Both directors also reflected on their journeys with the FLY Program.

Luhki shared that he had wanted to be a filmmaker since high school, though his parents did not initially understand the profession. While studying communication, he continued making films independently until he discovered FLY. He said that joining the program gave him confidence and helped his parents recognize his path. He described FLY as a source of strength, providing him with a supportive network that made him feel less alone in the industry.

Meanwhile, Aditya emphasized how FLY opened doors for collaboration and learning. The program connected him with some of the best professionals in the field, an experience he described as both lucky and full of gratefulness.

👌 When asked about the emotional depth of their films, the directors expressed what they hoped audiences would take away.

For Luhki, JIWO was about raising awareness of mental health, highlighting how even those affected may not fully understand what they are experiencing.

And Aditya, on the other hand, wanted viewers to share in the journey of his actress and reflect on the process of finding and discovering identity.

The 2026 ASEAN Korea Film Festival (AKFF) screened six selected films from Korea and ASEAN: Hope (Korea), Reawakened Man (Korea), Senin Harga Naik (Indonesia), Mojoku Hilang (Malaysia), Colony (Korea), and Gohan (Thailand).

For me, JIWO was the short film that left the deepest impression. Hearing the story behind its creation convinced me that the film resonates so strongly because of its closeness to real-life experiences. Its portrayal of schizophrenia felt especially familiar, as mental illness is something that has also touched my own family.

References: 1) ASEAN-ROK FilmCommunity Programme Official Website; 2) 2026 AKFF